Getting young people to the polls

Saturday, September 16, 2006

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The government class is required for all USF-St. Pete students.

Voter turnout is at all time lows in Florida and that may have cost some candidates the primary election.

With only 53 days left until the final decisions are made for governor, U.S. Senator and attorney general, some of the races are too close tocall and every vote is going to count.

So, candidates are revving up their efforts to energize voters, but a key group of voters is struggling to be heard.

For students at the University of South Florida St. Pete, getting into politics is required.

"I still have to register," student Adam Fuller said. "I haven't registered yet."

That's a common statement from an age group that's not really into this year's election.

"Studies have shown that young people today are the most apathetic in a generation," USF Government Professor Judithanne McLauchlan said.

The voting statistics in Pinellas County only highlight the problem. There are about 89,000 voters between 18 to 29-years-old. That's compared to 274,000 between 30 to 55-years-old.

"If we can get them registered, our hope they're going to get involved in the election process," McLauchlan said.

First, she's trying to get young people interested. That's one reason why the candidates have been invited to the class that all students are required to take.

Students are also required to intern on a campaign.

"The door knocking or the sign raising or licking envelopes or whatever can help," Fuller said.

"When young people feel they can make a difference on a campaign, it's huge," State Representative Charlie Justice said.

Justice is in a very heated race with State Representative Kim Berfield. Both of the candidates are recruiting students.

Students said the best way to get their attention is talk about issues they're interested in, not Medicare or social security, but education and finding ways to reduce the amount they have to pay to go to school.

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